Royal Logistics Corps launches Foundation

Published Monday 29 June 2015 1:58 pm

The Royal Logistics Corps has launched the RLC Foundation to engage with professional organisations and academia outside the army, exchanged ideas and co-ordinate “thought leadership” in military logistics. Richard Castell has been appointed director of the Foundation.

Supply chain resilience was the theme of the Foundation’s first major event last month with presentations from Brigadier Martin Moore and Annie Iakovaki, a consultant with PA Consulting.

Brigadier Moore, who commands 101 Logistic Brigade, has a wealth of operational logistic experience. This includes a tour as logistics operations officer in Kosovo and later in command of a logistics regiment in Afghanistan. Recently he was awarded a CBE for his role as Commander of Joint Force Support (Afghanistan) controlling the drawdown of forces and equipment from Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.

Some of the differences between the commercial and military worlds were highlighted. It was pointed out in the discussion that supply chain resilience in the commercial world is primarily concerned with mitigating supply-side disruptions; in the military world it is mitigating both supply-side disruptions and acute demand variability.

Much of the discussion focused on ensuring that good supply chain practice is embedded in military operations, and ensuring that lessons learnt from previous operations are not forgotten.

The Foundation is keen to examine the possible training opportunities through engagement with industry, including hands-on training and attachments which could work to the benefit of both military and industry partners.

It is also seeking to engage with academia to ensure that military training and education is recognised effectively by industry.

The Foundation’s next event, Exercise Log Safari takes place on 13th July at The Princess Royal Barracks at Deepcut. As well as presentations from senior logisticians it will include live demonstrations of RLC military activity.